JP6627387B2 - Electrode transport device and electrode transport method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrode transport device and an electrode transport method.

  A power storage device such as a secondary battery has an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode, which are electrodes, are stacked with a separator interposed therebetween. As the electrode assembly, a stacked electrode assembly in which a large number of substantially rectangular sheet-like electrodes are stacked is known. The electrode assembly is one in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are manufactured in different manufacturing steps, and then alternately stacked one by one in an assembling step. Therefore, when electrodes of the same polarity are temporarily folded and conveyed for the convenience of the production line, it is necessary to separate and arrange the individual electrodes.

  2. Description of the Related Art An apparatus described in Patent Literature 1 is known as a transporting apparatus that separates parts one by one from overlapping parts. This device separates parts by transporting overlapping electrodes in the first-stage belt transport device and transferring it to the second-stage belt transport device that is provided at a lower position than the first stage and set at a high speed. are doing.

JP-A-5-338778

  However, when the above-described transport device is applied to the electrodes to separate the electrodes from the overlapped electrodes, the separation may not be performed well, or the electrodes may rotate and greatly disturb the posture. Therefore, it has been required to improve the certainty when separating the electrodes one by one from the overlapping electrodes.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrode transporting apparatus and an electrode transporting method that can improve the reliability of separating electrodes one by one from overlapping electrodes.

  One embodiment of the present invention is an electrode transfer device that separates and transports the electrodes one by one from a plurality of overlapping sheet-shaped electrodes, and is adjacent to a first electrode on a downstream side in a transport direction. A first belt conveyor that conveys the second electrodes in an overlapping state, and a second belt conveyor that is disposed downstream of the first belt conveyor and separates the second electrodes from the first electrodes. In one belt conveyor, the back surface of the second electrode is overlapped so as to cover the surface of the first electrode in a state where the downstream end of the second electrode is shifted downstream from the first electrode, The second belt conveyor is configured to connect the second electrode to the second belt conveyor in a state where the back surface of the second electrode is separated from the downstream end of the first electrode on the first belt conveyor. Pull to the side.

  According to this electrode transport device, in the first belt conveyor, the back surface of the second electrode is placed on the first electrode while the downstream end of the second electrode is shifted downstream from the first electrode. Are stacked to cover the surface. When the first electrode and the second electrode are transported, the second belt conveyor first contacts the downstream end of the second electrode and lifts the downstream end. The speed of the second conveying surface of the second belt conveyor is higher than the speed of the first conveying surface of the first belt conveyor, that is, the speed of the first electrode, but the downstream end of the second electrode. Immediately after the contact, the transport surface has an upward velocity component, so that the horizontal velocity component is small. That is, the acceleration of the second electrode becomes slow. Furthermore, while the downstream end of the second electrode is lifted, the upstream end of the second electrode is in contact with the surface of the electrode, but the weight of the second electrode is It is considered that the friction acting on the upstream end of the second electrode is also reduced because it acts on the downstream end that has moved onto the second belt conveyor in two. Thereby, it is possible to improve the certainty in separating the electrodes one by one from the overlapping electrodes.

  The second transport surface of the second belt conveyor is arranged at a higher position than the first transport surface of the first belt conveyor. In this case, when the second electrode is pulled by the second belt conveyor, the second transport surface is arranged at a position higher than the first transport surface, so that the second electrode is located downstream of the second electrode. Is located at a higher position. Therefore, the back surface of the second electrode can be separated from the downstream end of the first electrode.

  The second conveyor surface of the second belt conveyor is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the first conveyor surface of the first belt conveyor. In this case, when the second electrode is pulled by the second belt conveyor, the second transport surface is inclined so as to form an acute angle with respect to the first transport surface. The downstream end is located at a higher position. Therefore, the back surface of the second electrode can be separated from the downstream end of the first electrode.

  Another aspect of the present invention is an electrode transport device that separates and transports electrodes one by one from a plurality of overlapping sheet-shaped electrodes, and includes a first belt conveyor and a downstream side of the first belt conveyor. A second belt conveyor, which is disposed and has a higher conveying speed than the first belt conveyor, and the second conveyor of the second belt conveyor is higher than the first conveying surface of the first belt conveyor. The surface is located at a higher position.

  According to this electrode transport device, when the second electrode is pulled by the second belt conveyor, the second transport surface is disposed at a position higher than the first transport surface. The downstream end of the electrode is disposed at a high position. Therefore, the back surface of the second electrode can be separated from the downstream end of the first electrode. Thus, the second electrode can be pulled toward the second belt conveyor while avoiding interference between the downstream end of the first electrode and the back surface of the second electrode. As described above, the reliability of separating the electrodes one by one from the overlapped electrodes can be improved.

  Another aspect of the present invention is an electrode transport method for separating and transporting electrodes one by one from a plurality of overlapping sheet-shaped electrodes, wherein the first belt conveyor conveys the electrodes to the first electrodes. The second electrode conveyed in a state where the second electrodes adjacent to each other on the downstream side in the direction overlap with each other, and the second belt conveyor arranged downstream of the first belt conveyor, thereby transferring the second electrode from the first electrode. And separating the second electrode on the first belt conveyor in a state where the downstream end of the second electrode is shifted downstream from the first electrode on the first belt conveyor. The back surface is overlapped so as to cover the front surface of the first electrode, and in the separation step, the back surface of the second electrode is separated from the downstream end of the first electrode on the first belt conveyor. Pulling the second electrode to the second belt conveyor side Stretch.

  According to this electrode transport method, the same operation and effect as those of the above-described electrode transport device can be obtained.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the reliability at the time of isolate | separating an electrode one by one from the electrode which overlapped can be improved.

It is a figure showing typically the electrode lamination device to which the electrode conveyance device of a 1st embodiment of the present invention was applied. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an electrode transport device and a buffer device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically illustrating the electrode transport device and the buffer device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view showing typically the electrode conveyance device of a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view which shows typically the electrode conveyance apparatus which concerns on a comparative example. It is a side view showing typically the electrode conveyance device of a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view which shows typically the electrode conveyance device of a modification. It is a side view which shows typically the electrode conveyance device of 1st Embodiment and 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements will be denoted by the same reference symbols, without redundant description.

(1st Embodiment)
With reference to FIG. 1, an electrode transport device 40 according to the first embodiment will be described. The electrode transfer device 40 is a device used in a production line of a power storage device such as a secondary battery. The power storage device production line generally includes a positive electrode production line, a negative electrode production line, and an assembly line for assembling the power storage device with a case and the like using the electrodes (positive electrode and negative electrode) produced by each electrode production line. Is done. The electrode stacking apparatus 1 is an apparatus that is arranged on an assembly line and stacks a positive electrode and a negative electrode to obtain a laminate X that is a precursor of an electrode assembly. The electrode transport device 40 is a transport device disposed between the electrode stacking device 1 and the positive electrode production line or the negative electrode production line. Note that the present embodiment is a production line for a lithium ion secondary battery, but can be applied to a production line for another power storage device.

  The electrode stacking device 1 stacks the positive electrode 11, the separator 13, and the negative electrode 12 of the power storage device. The electrode assembly of the power storage device includes a positive electrode 11, a negative electrode 12, and a bag-shaped separator 13 disposed between the positive electrode 11 and the negative electrode 12. One of the positive electrode 11 and the negative electrode 12 can be accommodated in the separator 13. In the present embodiment, the positive electrode 11 is housed in the separator 13. With the positive electrode 11 stored in the separator 13, the positive electrode 11 and the negative electrode 12 are alternately stacked via the separator 13. That is, the electrode stacking apparatus 1 alternately stacks the negative electrodes 12 and the positive electrodes with separators 10 which are sheet-like electrodes (work).

  The positive electrode 11 is formed by forming a positive electrode active material layer on both sides of a rectangular metal foil made of, for example, an aluminum foil. The positive electrode active material layer includes a positive electrode active material and a binder. Examples of the positive electrode active material include a composite oxide, lithium metal, sulfur, and the like. The composite oxide contains, for example, at least one of manganese, nickel, cobalt, and aluminum, and lithium. The positive electrode 11 of the present embodiment has a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides. On one of the long sides, a tab (projection) 11a used for connection to the positive electrode terminal is formed.

  The portion of the positive electrode 11 excluding the tab 11 a is accommodated in a bag-shaped separator 13. Examples of the material for forming the separator 13 include a porous film made of a polyolefin resin such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP), and a woven or nonwoven fabric made of polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), methylcellulose, and the like. The tab 11 a of the positive electrode 11 protrudes outward from the long side of the substantially rectangular separator (main body) 13. As described above, the positive electrode 11 is accommodated in the bag-shaped separator 13 to constitute the positive electrode 10 with the separator. The width in the left-right direction of the bag-shaped separator 13 used in the electrode stacking apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is the same as the width of the negative electrode 12. The height of the separator 13 is the same as the height of the negative electrode 12. The separator 13 is not limited to a bag shape, but may be a sheet shape.

  On the other hand, the negative electrode 12 is formed by forming a negative electrode active material layer on both surfaces of a metal foil made of, for example, a copper foil. The negative electrode active material layer is formed including a negative electrode active material and a binder. Examples of the negative electrode active material include graphite, highly oriented graphite, mesocarbon microbeads, carbon such as hard carbon and soft carbon, alkali metals such as lithium and sodium, metal compounds, SiOx (0.5 ≦ x ≦ 1.5 ) And boron-added carbon. The negative electrode 12 of the present embodiment includes a pair of long sides and a pair of short sides. On one of the long sides, a tab (projection) 12a used for connection to the negative electrode terminal is formed. The tab 12a of the negative electrode 12 protrudes outward from the long side of the rectangular main body 12b on which the negative electrode active material layer is formed. The tabs 11a and 12a are formed at positions where they do not overlap each other when the positive electrode 11 (that is, the positive electrode 10 with a separator) and the negative electrode 12 are stacked.

  The binder is, for example, polyvinylidene fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene, a fluororesin such as fluororubber, a thermoplastic resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene, a polyimide, an imide resin such as polyamideimide, or an alkoxysilyl group-containing resin. Good.

  The electrode laminating apparatus 1 slides the transport unit 2 that alternately transports the positive electrode 10 and the negative electrode 12 with a separator, which are two different types of electrodes, and the positive electrode 10 and the negative electrode 12 with the separator, which are discharged from an outlet 2 b of the transport unit 2. And a stacking section 4 for alternately receiving the positive electrode 10 and the negative electrode 12 with the separator slid in the sliding section 20 and forming a stacked body X of the electrodes in the stacked area A. Note that, in the present embodiment, as described above, the electrode stacking device 1 utilizing the sliding (falling) of the inclined surface will be described. However, the type of the electrode stacking device in the present embodiment is not particularly limited to this. Not. For example, the electrodes sequentially supplied by the transport unit may be stacked by a robot arm having a suction pad or the like. On the upstream side, the electrode stacking device 1 stores buffer devices 30, 30 for storing the positive electrode 10 with the separator and the negative electrode 12, respectively, and supplies the positive electrode 10 with the separator and the negative electrode 12 from the respective buffer devices 30, 30 to the transport unit 2. It is connected to the electrode transport device 40 as a production line.

  The transport unit 2 is, for example, a belt conveyor having a belt 2d. The transport unit 2 alternately places the negative electrodes 12 and the positive electrodes with separators 10 on the transport surface 2a of the belt 2d, and transports them in the transport direction D1. The transport direction D1 in the transport unit 2 is, for example, a horizontal direction. Note that the transport direction D1 is not limited to the horizontal direction, and may be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. The transport unit 2 transports the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 so that the tabs 12a and 11a are located on the upstream side in the transport direction D1. In other words, the transport unit 2 transports the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 such that the other long side on which the tabs 12a and 11a are not formed is the front side. In addition, a positive electrode supply unit and a negative electrode supply unit (not shown) are arranged on the upstream side of the transport unit 2. The positive electrode with separator 10 is supplied and placed on the transport surface 2a by the positive electrode supply unit. The negative electrode supply unit supplies and loads the negative electrode 12 on the transport surface 2a.

  The transport unit 2 is provided with a drive unit 2c. The driving unit 2c runs the belt 2d by rotating the roller. The drive unit 2c also has a function as a control unit, and can change and adjust the traveling speed of the belt 2d. The tip of the transport surface 2a is an outlet 2b for alternately discharging the transported negative electrode 12 and positive electrode 10 with separator. In the transport section 2, the transport speed is increased, and high-speed transport of the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with the separator is possible. The negative electrode 12 and the separator-equipped positive electrode 10 discharged from the outlet 2b are supplied to the sliding section 20 by dropping toward the sliding section 20 by their own weight.

  The sliding section 20 is disposed diagonally below the outlet 2b of the transport section 2. The sliding section 20 is disposed on an extension of the sliding section 20 when viewed in a plan view. In other words, the sliding section 20 is disposed below an extension extending from the exit section 2b in the transport direction D1. A space may be provided between the outlet 2b and the sliding section 20. The size of this space may be set based on the transport speed in the transport unit 2, the number of stacked electrodes in the laminate X, and the like. Alternatively, a space may not be provided between the outlet 2b and the sliding section 20. The angle of inclination of the sliding portion 20 is 30 to 70 ° with respect to the horizontal direction.

  The stacking section 4 is disposed diagonally below the exit of the sliding section 20. The stacked portion 4 is arranged on an extension of the sliding portion 20 when viewed in a plan view. A space is provided between the sliding section 20 and the laminated section 4. The size of this space is set based on the transport speed in the sliding section 20, the number of stacked electrodes in the stacked body X, and the like.

  The stacking unit 4 is mounted on the support unit 9. The support section 9 has a holding frame 9a for holding the stacked section 4, and the stacked section 4 is placed and held on the holding frame 9a. The support section 9 may have a structure that can be slid in the front-rear direction or the up-down direction so that the relative position of the stacked section 4 to the outlet section 2b can be changed. Here, the front-back direction is a direction parallel to the direction in which the transport direction D1 is projected on a horizontal plane. The support portion 9 may be adjusted, for example, so as to maintain the relative position between the uppermost layer electrode (the negative electrode 12 or the positive electrode 10 with a separator) laminated in the lamination region A of the lamination portion 4 and the outlet portion 2b. Good.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the laminated portion 4 includes a rectangular bottom plate portion 6 provided to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, a stop plate portion 7 erected at the lower end of the bottom plate portion 6, and a bottom plate portion. 6 and a pair of parallel side plate portions 8, 8 erected on the left and right side portions. The surface of the bottom plate 6 is a mounting surface 6a on which the laminate X is mounted. The stacked portion 4 having a rectangular parallelepiped outer shape includes a surface facing the mounting surface 6a (that is, a surface from which the stacked body X is taken out) and a surface facing the stop plate portion 7 (that is, a surface closest to the outlet portion 20b). Is open. From these opened portions, the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode with separator 10 can enter.

  The moving direction of the negative electrode 12 and the separator-equipped positive electrode 10 discharged from the sliding section 20 and entering the laminated section 4 varies depending on the positional relationship between the sliding section 20 and the laminated section 4 and the moving speed in the sliding section 20. This is a direction in which the angle with respect to the horizontal plane is slightly larger than the inclination direction of the placing surface 6a. The moving direction of the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with the separator may be substantially equal to the inclination direction of the mounting surface 6a.

  The stop plate 7 erected at the lower end (one end in the moving direction) of the bottom plate 6 is provided so as to be orthogonal to the bottom plate 6, and the negative electrode 12 that moves in the inclination direction or the movement direction of the mounting surface 6a. And the positive electrode 10 with a separator is stopped. The pair of side plates 8, 8 are arranged to be orthogonal to the bottom plate 6 and the stop plate 7, respectively. A laminated area A where the laminated body X is formed is provided between the bottom plate part 6, the stop plate part 7, and the side plate parts 8,8. The pair of parallel side plate portions 8, 8 has an interval slightly larger than the width of the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with a separator, and guides the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with a separator toward the lamination region A. Note that, in order to facilitate the guidance of the negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with a separator, the upper portions of the side plates 8, 8 (portions opened to the outlet portion side) are tapered at wider intervals toward the upper side. The negative electrode 12 and the positive electrode 10 with a separator are guided by the side plates 8, 8, and are stacked on the mounting surface 6 a in a state of contacting the stop plate 7. Therefore, the lamination region A is a rectangular parallelepiped region in contact with the bottom plate portion 6, the stop plate portion 7, and the side plate portions 8, 8.

  Next, configurations of the buffer device 30 and the electrode transport device 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, a horizontal servo loop slider is illustrated as the buffer device 30, but the buffer device 30 is not limited to this configuration, and any configuration may be employed as long as it can store electrodes. .

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the buffer device 30 includes a transport unit 31 that transports the positive electrode 10 or the negative electrode 12 with a separator supplied from the positive electrode production line or the negative electrode production line, and a separator that is transported from the transport unit 31. A buffer unit 32 for storing the positive electrode 10 or the negative electrode 12 and an extruding unit 33 for extruding the positive electrode 10 or the negative electrode 12 with a separator stored in the buffer unit 32 to the electrode transport device 40 are provided. In the following description, “the positive electrode 10 or the negative electrode 12 with a separator” is simply referred to as “electrode 15”.

  The buffer section 32 holds the electrodes 15 in a vertical state, and stores the electrodes 15 while rotating the electrodes 15 in a track-shaped loop. The buffer unit 32 includes a plurality of holding units 32a for holding the electrodes 15 in a vertical state. The plurality of holding portions 32a are arranged so as to draw a track shape as a whole. Further, the plurality of holding units 32a are rotated by a driving unit (not shown) so as to draw a track in a track shape. The holding unit 32a holds the electrode 15 in a state where the electrode 15 extends in the radial direction with respect to the track of the track shape. The transport unit 31 is configured by a belt conveyor. The transport surface of the belt conveyor of the transport unit 31 is twisted so that the electrode 15 can be inserted into the holding unit 32a with the electrode 15 in a vertical state. The transport unit 31 transports the electrode 15 in a laid state on the upstream side in the transport direction, makes the electrode 15 vertical by the twisted transport surface on the downstream side, and inserts the electrode 15 into the holding unit 32a in this state. The transport section 31 inserts the electrode 15 into the holding section 32a at a position corresponding to the long side portion of the track-shaped locus of the buffer section 32.

  The pushing section 33 pushes the electrode 15 held by the holding section 32a from the inner peripheral side toward the outer peripheral side. As a result, the electrode 15 extruded by the extruder 33 is supplied to the electrode transport device 40 arranged on the outer peripheral side. The pushing section 33 pushes out the electrode 15 held vertically by the holding section 32a. The pushing unit 33 pushes a plurality (five in FIG. 3) of the electrodes 15 by one operation. The push-out unit 33 pushes out the electrode 15 at a position corresponding to a long side portion of the track-like locus of the buffer unit 32. The push-out section 33 is provided on a long side portion opposite to the transport section 31. Note that it is possible to have a structure in which only one electrode 15 is extruded in one operation. However, in this case, in the same machine cycle time, the extruding unit 33 extrudes the electrode 15 as compared with simultaneous extrusion of a plurality of sheets. Speed needs to be several times faster. For this reason, the load applied to the electrode 15 during extrusion is increased. In particular, when the thickness of the electrode is thin, the electrode is relatively easily damaged. Therefore, in this embodiment, a structure in which a plurality of sheets are simultaneously extruded from the buffer device and separated on the downstream side is used.

  The electrode transfer device 40 is a device that separates and transports the electrodes 15 one by one from a plurality of overlapping sheet-like electrodes 15. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the electrode transport device 40 includes a first belt conveyor 41 to which a plurality of electrodes 15 extruded by the pushing unit 33 of the buffer device 30 are supplied, and a first belt conveyor 41. A second belt conveyor 42 arranged on the downstream side.

  The first belt conveyor 41 includes a belt 41d supported by a cylindrical roller 41c. The belt 41d is supported by a pair of rollers 41c separated from each other. The upper surface of the portion of the belt 41d that is bridged over the upper end of the roller 41c corresponds to the first transport surface 41a. The first transport surface 41a is slightly lower than the bottom surface of the buffer unit 32, and the extruded electrode 15 moves onto the first transport surface 41a with a slight drop. The belt 41d is curved in a semicircular shape along the roller 41c at the outlet 41b at the downstream end. The roller 41c is connected to a driving unit (not shown), and rotates by a driving force applied from the driving unit. As a result, the first transport surface 41a of the belt 41d is sent out in the transport direction D2 with the electrode 15 placed thereon, thereby transporting the electrode 15 in the transport direction D2. The first belt conveyor 41 is provided on the opposite side of the buffer unit 30 across the pushing unit 33 and the holding unit 32a. Further, the first belt conveyor 41 is arranged so that the transport direction D2 and the pushing direction of the pushing section 33 are orthogonal to each other.

  The first belt conveyor 41 places a plurality of electrodes 15 in an overlapping state on the first transport surface 41a, and transports the plurality of electrodes 15 in the transport direction. First, when the pusher 33 pushes the plurality of electrodes 15 to the first transport surface 41a, the electrodes 15 are in a state of rising in the vertical direction and are separated from each other. After being completely pushed out to the first transport surface 41a, each electrode 15 comes into contact with the first transport surface 41a after a slight drop. By contacting the first transport surface 41a, the lower end of each electrode 15 is pulled to the downstream side by friction, so that the upper end falls down toward the upstream side, as shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the electrodes 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D, and 15E overlap each other in the order from the upstream side to the downstream side.

  When the electrodes 15D and 15E are viewed, the electrode 15E (second electrode) adjacent on the downstream side in the transport direction D2 overlaps the electrode 15D (first electrode) on the upstream side. Specifically, in a state where the lower end (downstream end) 15c of the electrode 15E is shifted downstream from the electrode 15D, that is, in a state where it extends downstream from the lower end 15c of the electrode 15D, the back surface of the electrode 15E is It is overlaid so as to cover the surface of the electrode 15D. Therefore, the upper end (upstream end) 15b of the electrode 15D is exposed without being covered by the electrode 15E. On the other hand, the lower end 15c of the electrode 15D is covered with the electrode 15E. A similar positional relationship holds for the electrodes 15A to 15D. The tab 15a of the electrode 15 is provided on an exposed portion of each of the electrodes 15A to 15E, that is, on the upper end 15b.

  The second belt conveyor 42 includes a belt 42d supported by a cylindrical roller 42c. The belt 42d is supported by a pair of rollers 42c separated from each other. The upper surface of the portion of the belt 42d that is bridged over the upper end of the roller 42c corresponds to the second transport surface 42a. The belt 42d is curved in a semicircular shape along the roller 42c at the entrance 42b at the upstream end. The roller 42c is connected to a driving unit (not shown), and rotates by a driving force applied from the driving unit. As a result, the second transport surface 42a of the belt 42d is sent out in the transport direction D2 with the electrode 15 placed thereon, thereby transporting the electrode 15 in the transport direction D2. The transport speed of the second belt conveyor 42 is faster than the transport speed of the first belt conveyor 41.

  The second belt conveyor 42 is arranged downstream of the first belt conveyor 41. The second belt conveyor 42 is arranged such that the entrance portion 42b faces the exit portion 41b of the first belt conveyor 41. The second belt conveyor 42 is disposed on an extension of the first belt conveyor 41 when viewed in a plan view. A space is provided between the second belt conveyor 42 and the first belt conveyor 41. The size of this space is set based on the transport speed, the size of the electrode 15, and the like.

  The second belt conveyor 42 peels and separates only one of the electrodes 15 arranged at the most downstream side from the plurality of overlapping electrodes 15. For the sake of explanation, FIG. 4 shows only the electrodes 15A and 15B. FIG. 4 shows how the belt conveyor 42 separates the electrode 15B from the electrode 15A. That is, in FIG. 4, the electrode 15A corresponds to the “first electrode”, and the electrode 15B corresponds to the “second electrode”. As shown in FIG. 4, the second belt conveyor 42 has a function of separating the electrode 15B from the electrode 15A on the first belt conveyor 41.

  The second belt conveyor 42 separates the electrode 15B from the lower end 15c of the electrode 15A on the first belt conveyor 41 in a state where the back surface 15d of the electrode 15B is separated (see the portion indicated by A in FIG. 4). Pull to the second belt conveyor 42 side. Note that the electrode 15B is separated from the electrode 15A and completely placed on the second belt conveyor 42 after the electrode 15B comes into contact with the second belt conveyor 42, and the electrode 15B is It is sufficient that the back surface 15d of the electrode 15B is separated from the upper end 15b of 15A.

  In order to realize such a state, the second transport surface 42a of the second belt conveyor 42 is arranged at a position higher than the first transport surface 41a of the first belt conveyor 41. In the present embodiment, the second belt conveyor 42 is disposed at a position higher than the first belt conveyor 41 as a whole. The first transport surface 41a and the second transport surface 42a are parallel to each other and extend in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the entire area from the upstream end to the downstream end of the second transfer surface 42a is higher than the entire area from the downstream end to the upstream end of the first transfer surface 41a. Placed in

  How high the second belt conveyor 42 is located relative to the first belt conveyor 41 is not particularly limited. However, it is preferable that the center CL of the roller 42c of the second belt conveyor 42 is disposed at a position lower than the first transport surface 41a of the first belt conveyor 41. The lower end 15c of the electrode 15B transported on the first transport surface 41a contacts the entry portion 42b of the second belt conveyor 42 and is pushed upward to be pulled toward the second transport surface 42a. Accordingly, when the center CL of the roller 42c is disposed at a position lower than the first transport surface 41a of the first belt conveyor 41, the end of the electrode 15B is located at the upper side of the semicircular entry portion 42b. Because it is in contact with the half part, it is easy to be pushed upward. On the other hand, when the center CL of the roller 42c is arranged at a position higher than the first transport surface 41a of the first belt conveyor 41, the end of the electrode 15B is located at the lower end of the semicircular entry portion 42b. Since the contact is made so as to sink into the half part, it is difficult to be pushed upward. However, depending on the rotational force of the roller 42c, the electrode 15B may be pushed upward even if the end of the electrode 15B abuts on the lower half of the semicircular entry portion 42b. The lower limit of the height of the second transport surface 42a with respect to the first transport surface 41a is not particularly limited as long as the effects of the present invention can be obtained, and depends on the deflection and size of the electrode 15.

  Next, the electrode transport method according to the present embodiment will be described. First, when a plurality of electrodes 15 are supplied from the buffer device 30 to the first belt conveyor 41, the first belt conveyor 41 uses Then, a transporting step of transporting the electrode 15B adjacent on the downstream side in the transport direction D2 in an overlapping state is performed. In the transport step, the back surface 15d of the electrode 15B is overlapped on the first belt conveyor 41 with the lower end 15c of the electrode 15B shifted downstream from the electrode 15A so as to cover the front surface 15e of the electrode 15A.

  Next, a separation step for separating the electrode 15B from the electrode 15A is performed by the second belt conveyor 42 disposed downstream of the first belt conveyor 41. In the separation step, the electrode 15B is pulled toward the second belt conveyor 42 with the back surface 15d of the electrode 15B separated from the lower end 15c of the electrode 15A on the first belt conveyor 41. The second belt conveyor 42 can separate the electrode 15B from the electrode 15A by placing the entire electrode 15B on the second transport surface 42a.

  Next, the operation and effect of the electrode transport device 40 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  First, an electrode transport device 140 according to a comparative example will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, in the electrode transport device 140 according to the comparative example, the second transport surface 42a of the second belt conveyor 42 is lower than the first transport surface 41a of the first belt conveyor 41. Placed in the position. In this case, the lower end 15c of the electrode 15B is placed on the second transfer surface 42a disposed at a lower position, so that the back surface 15d of the electrode and the lower end 15c of the electrode 15A contact and interfere with each other. Become. As described above, when the second belt conveyor 42 pulls the electrode 15B while the lower end 15c of the electrode 15A interferes with the back surface 15d of the electrode 15B, the interference may prevent the electrode 15B from being separated well, , The electrode 15A rotated, and the posture was sometimes greatly disturbed. Inferring this cause is, for example, the state of the edge of the active material layer. In a method of manufacturing an electrode of a lithium ion secondary battery, an active material layer is formed on a long strip-shaped metal foil, and after forming an electrode material, the electrode material is cut to form individual electrodes 15A and 15B. . The outer periphery of the active material layer formed by cutting has sharper edges and is more easily caught than a chamfered corner of a general part as described in Patent Document. Since the back surface 15d of the electrode 15B contacts the lower end 15c of the electrode 15A near the center thereof, that is, at a position close to the center of gravity, the friction due to the contact of the electrode 15A with the lower end 15c of the horizontal movement of the electrode 15B increases. growing. Furthermore, at the same time that the lower end 15c of the electrode 15B comes into contact with the transfer surface 42a, the electrode 15B is accelerated to the same speed as the transfer surface 42a. It seems easy.

  On the other hand, the following operation is estimated for the electrode transport device 40 of the present embodiment. That is, in the first belt conveyor 41, the lower surface 15d of the electrode 15B is stacked so as to cover the surface 15e of the electrode 15A in a state where the lower end 15c of the electrode 15B is shifted downstream from the electrode 15A. When the electrodes 15A and 15B are transported, the second belt conveyor 42 first contacts the lower end 15c of the electrode 15B and lifts the lower end 15c. The speed of the second transfer surface 42a of the second belt conveyor 42 is higher than the speed of the first transfer surface 41a of the first belt conveyor 41, that is, the speed of the electrode 15A, but the lower end 15c of the electrode 15B comes in contact with the second transfer surface 42a. Immediately after, the transport surface has an upward velocity component, so that the horizontal velocity component is smaller than that of the comparative example. That is, the acceleration of the electrode 15B becomes gentle. Further, while the lower end 15c of the electrode 15B is lifted, the upper end 15b of the electrode 15B is in contact with the surface of the electrode 15A, but the weight of the electrode 15B is lower than the lower ends 15c and 2c that have moved onto the second belt conveyor. Since it acts separately, the friction acting on the upper end 15b of the electrode 15B is also expected to be smaller than in the comparative example. Thereby, the reliability of separating the electrodes 15 one by one from the overlapping electrodes 15 can be improved. The same operation and effect can be obtained by the electrode transport method of the present embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, when the electrode 15B is separated, the upper end 15b of the electrode 15B is in contact with the surface 15e of the electrode 15A. That is, the upper end 15b of the electrode 15B is pulled toward the second belt conveyor 42 while moving on the surface 15e of the electrode 15A. However, as shown in FIG. 5, when the lower end 15c of the electrode 15A interferes with the back surface 15d of the electrode 15B, the electrode 15B is entirely leaning against the lower end 15c of the electrode 15A, so that the interference force increases. In comparison, as in the present embodiment, the interference force when the upper end 15b of the electrode 15B interferes with the surface 15e of the electrode 15A is reduced. Therefore, the electrode 15B can be peeled off smoothly from the electrode 15A.

  Further, the second transport surface 42a of the second belt conveyor 42 is arranged at a higher position than the first transport surface 41a of the first belt conveyor 41. In this case, when the electrode 15B is pulled by the second belt conveyor 42, the lower end 15c of the electrode 15B is positioned because the second transport surface 42a is located at a higher position than the first transport surface 41a. It is arranged at a high position. Therefore, the electrode 15B is lifted, and the back surface 15d of the electrode 15B can be separated from the lower end 15c of the electrode 15A.

(2nd Embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 6A, in the electrode transport device 240 according to the second embodiment, the second transport of the second belt conveyor 42 is performed with respect to the first transport surface 41 a of the first belt conveyor 41. The surface 42a is inclined so as to form an acute angle. The angle may be set to 45 ° or less. In the electrode transfer device 240 shown in FIG. 6A, the height position of the outlet 41b of the first belt conveyor 41 and the height position of the entrance 42b of the second belt conveyor 42 are the same (that is, the center of the roller 41c and the center of the roller 42c). Are at the same height position), the second belt conveyor 42 is inclined upward toward the downstream side. Thereby, the second transport surface 42a is inclined upward. Therefore, the second transport surface 42a is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the first transport surface 41a extending in the horizontal direction.

  In this case, when the electrode 15B is pulled by the second belt conveyor 42, the second transport surface 42a is inclined so as to form an acute angle with the first transport surface 41a. 15c is arranged at a higher position. Therefore, the electrode 15B is lifted, and the back surface 15d of the electrode 15B can be separated from the lower end 15c of the electrode 15A.

  In addition, as in the electrode transport device 340 shown in FIG. 6B, the height position of the entrance 42b of the second belt conveyor 42 is made lower than that of the exit 41b of the first belt conveyor 41. Is also good. The height position of the entrance 42b of the second belt conveyor 42 may be higher than that of the exit 41b of the first belt conveyor 41. Alternatively, as in an electrode transfer device 440 shown in FIG. 6C, the first transfer surface 41a is inclined downward toward the downstream side, and the second transfer surface 42a is inclined upward toward the downstream side. ing. As described above, if the second transfer surface 42a of the second belt conveyor 42 is inclined to form an acute angle with respect to the first transfer surface 41a of the first belt conveyor 41, each transfer is performed. The positional relationship between the surfaces 41a and 42a is not particularly limited.

  In addition, with reference to FIG. 8, the electrode transport device 40 of the first embodiment is compared with the electrode transport device 240 of the second embodiment. FIG. 8 shows a case where an electrode 15 having a large deflection is used as the electrode 15. As shown in FIG. 8B, in the case of the electrode transporting device 240, the distance between the lower end 15c of the electrode 15A and the back surface 15d of the electrode 15B is reduced by bending the electrode 15B so as to be convex downward. There are cases. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8A, in the case of the electrode transporting device 40, the distance between the lower end 15c of the electrode 15A and the back surface 15d of the electrode 15B is small by bending the electrode 15B so as to be convex upward. Can be suppressed. As described above, in the case of the electrode transport device 40, even when the deflection of the electrode 15 is large, the electrode 15 can be separated more appropriately.

  As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, in order to easily place the electrode 15 on the second belt conveyor 42, by applying a moving magnetic field along the transport direction D2 at a position between the belt conveyors 41 and 42, 15 may be floated. In FIG. 7A, a three-phase alternating current is applied to the coils 50 arranged in the transport direction D2 to generate a moving magnetic field. Further, in FIG. 7B, a moving magnetic field in the tangential direction is generated by disposing the rotating magnet 51 close to the electrode 15B.

  In the above-described embodiment, the first belt conveyor 41 and the second belt conveyor 42 may use a belt conveyor having the same specification with a different conveying speed, or may use a belt conveyor having a different specification. For example, the material and the surface shape may be changed so that the frictional force (grip force) of the belt 42d of the second belt conveyor 42 is larger than that of the belt 41d of the first belt conveyor 41. Further, a pressing roller or the like may be provided on the second belt conveyor 42 in order to improve the grip force.

  The transport unit 2 shown in FIG. 1 is not limited to a belt conveyor. For example, a pallet conveyance type conveyance unit that is conveyed on a circulation path by a timing belt or a chain may be used. In addition, the transport unit may be a transport unit using sliding by gravity.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Positive electrode (electrode) with a separator, 12 ... Negative electrode (electrode), 15 ... Electrode (1st electrode, 2nd electrode), 40,240,340,440 ... Electrode conveying device, 41 ... First belt conveyor , 41a... A first conveying surface, 42... A second belt conveyor, 42a.

Claims (4)

An electrode transporting device that separates and transports the electrodes one by one from a plurality of overlapping sheet-shaped electrodes,
A first belt conveyor that conveys the second electrode adjacent to the first electrode on the downstream side in the conveyance direction in an overlapping state;
A second belt conveyor that is disposed downstream of the first belt conveyor and separates the second electrode from the first electrode;
In the first belt conveyor, the back surface of the second electrode faces the front surface of the first electrode in a state where the downstream end of the second electrode is shifted downstream from the first electrode. Layered over to cover,
The second belt conveyor is configured to hold the second electrode in a state where the back surface of the second electrode is separated from the downstream end of the first electrode on the first belt conveyor. An electrode transport device that pulls toward the second belt conveyor.   The electrode transport device according to claim 1, wherein a second transport surface of the second belt conveyor is arranged at a position higher than a first transport surface of the first belt conveyor. An electrode transporting device that separates and transports the electrodes one by one from a plurality of overlapping sheet-shaped electrodes,
A first belt conveyor,
A second belt conveyor disposed downstream of the first belt conveyor and having a higher transport speed than the first belt conveyor;
An electrode transport device, wherein a second transport surface of the second belt conveyor is arranged at a position higher than a first transport surface of the first belt conveyor. An electrode transport method for separating and transporting the electrodes one by one from a plurality of overlapping sheet-shaped electrodes,
A transporting step of transporting the second electrode adjacent to the first electrode on the downstream side in the transport direction in an overlapping state with the first electrode by the first belt conveyor;
A separation step of separating the second electrode from the first electrode by a second belt conveyor disposed downstream of the first belt conveyor,
In the transporting step, on the first belt conveyor, the back surface of the second electrode is placed in a state in which the downstream end of the second electrode is shifted from the first electrode to the downstream side. Are stacked so as to cover the surface of the first electrode,
In the separating step, the second electrode is connected to the second belt while the back surface of the second electrode is separated from the downstream end of the first electrode on the first belt conveyor. An electrode transport method that pulls to the belt conveyor side.

Images